TORONTO – Residents in several central Ontario communities continue to grapple with washed out roads and flooded basements after the spring snow melt and days of heavy rain pushed water levels to a record high.
Although officials said the worst of the flooding is over, water levels remain extremely high in several communities.
The town of Bracebridge, Ont., remained in a state of emergency on Wednesday.
Although water levels appeared to have peaked in the north and south branches of the Muskoka River, officials said high water levels are expected for several days.
Also on Wednesday, the town of Huntsville – located approximately 220 km north of Toronto – said they are continuing to work with residents who have been displaced by the flooding.
Community organizations and government agencies have provided information on financial donations, food donations and cleaning supplies on the town of Huntsville website.
Meanwhile in the township of Ramara, Ont., officials said that although flood waters on the Black River are receding, water levels on Lake St. John and the Green River are continuing to rise. “We are not clear of the storm yet,” said Tony Stong, administrator with the Ramara Fire and Rescue Services.
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Beginning on Friday April 19, seven Ontario communities – including Huntsville, Bracebridge and Kawartha Lakes – declared states of emergency as rising water levels flooded roadways and homes, causing extensive infrastructure damage and prompting evacuations.
Officials in Huntsville reported over the weekend that water levels in some low lying areas were at the highest point ever recorded.
Numerous roads were closed and power was shut down in parts of town on Saturday as a safety precaution.
Huntsville ended its state of emergency on Tuesday, but Mayor Claude Doughty said officials would continue to work on restoring the town, adding that many roads would remain closed for the next few days.
“I thank the residents on behalf of council and myself, for their continued patience and support of this challenging situation,” he said.
Officials said it will take millions of dollars and months of work to repair damage to the town’s roads and infrastructure.
Watch the video: Ontario cottage country flooding
On Tuesday, Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur and Municipal Affairs Minister Linda Jeffrey visited some of the communities hit by flooding, to see the extent of the damage and offer government support.
“Emergency Management Ontario field officers have been in contact with these communities, and, in the hardest hit areas, field officers have been deployed and are working to ensure municipalities have the support they need,” Meilleur said in a statement.
Despite some communities ending their flooding state of emergency, officials said that help is still needed for residents who were displaced, as well as repairing extensive damage to buildings and municipal infrastructure.
“They’re calling it the one in a 100 year type flood,” said Jolanta Kowalski, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The communities aren’t out of the woods yet, she said.
*With files from The Canadian Press
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